Deciding where you are going to stay is one of the most essential decisions that goes into planning a trip. After all, it is the location where each day’s new adventure will begin and end.
While there are several accommodation methods to choose from, most travellers will base their trips out of either a hotel or a hostel.
But of course, these two accommodation options offer two entirely unique experiences that cater to different types of travellers.
For starters, hostels are the backpacker’s haven. The shared accommodation style is ideal for the budget weary globetrotters looking to connect with others that share their passion. However, the dynamic nature of hostels leaves minimal opportunity for alone time.
On the other hand, Hotels forgo the social aspect of shared accommodations for increased privacy.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer when deciding between hotel vs hostel. Ultimately, it comes down to the type of experiences you are looking for on your trip.
So, to help you understand which is better for your next adventure, let’s take a closer look at some of the differences between hotels and hostels.
The Advantages of Staying at a Hostel
As mentioned already, hostels are a favourite amongst backpackers and budget travellers. But what exactly is a hostel vs a hotel?
The main difference between a hostel and a hotel is that hostels offer a shared accommodation design. Instead of booking a room, you are booking a bunk bed in a dorm which you will share with several roommates, often numbering 8+.
While this accommodation style can often be overwhelming for some travellers, it also comes with its own variety of advantages. So, let’s take a look at some of the top benefits that come with staying at a hostel.
Budget-Friendly Costs:
The most significant advantage of staying at a hostel vs hotel is the lowered expenses that come with a shared room. Since you are only paying for a bed in a room of 8+ people, you end up splitting the overall price of the room with your roommates. As a result, you are left with a very affordable accommodation option compared to local hotel rates. Of course, hostel prices will vary in different regions of the world. Nevertheless, many hostels can be found for as low as $3/$4 per night for a variety of destinations in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
The Social Aspect:
The less obvious but no less evident benefit of staying at a hostel vs hotel is the added social element that comes with shared accommodation. For solo travellers and those looking to meet people on their trip, this is a massive opportunity to make friends. Most people who stay at hostels share a similar passion for travel, making it very easy to connect with these strangers. Additionally, many hostels will bring their social element even further by adding an on-location bar to their facilities. But be wary. These party hostels can attract massive crowds and be overwhelming if you seek a good night’s sleep.
The Backpacker Experience:
Hostels in and of themselves are essential to the backpacker experience. Hostel operators know this, and they cater their services to that demographic. This is massively advantageous because backpackers can book nearby excursions or transport to their following destinations directly from their hostel’s front desk. They know what you, as a backpacker, want, and they know how to deliver that to you.
The Advantages of Staying at a Hotel
Conversely, the hotel experience is entirely different from that at a hostel. When you spend a long day exploring an exotic destination, sometimes all you want to do is curl up in your room and watch a movie. At a hotel, you can do just that.
While renting a hotel room does come with increased costs, this additional expense is rationalized by an assortment of added benefits. Let’s take a deep dive into some of the top advantages that come with booking a hotel vs hostel.
Privacy:
When staying at a hotel, you don’t have to worry about not having any privacy. You’ve rented a whole room after all. Many people are surprised when they hear travel can be exhausting, but it can be. And hotels are the best way to take a ‘vacation’ from your travels and unwind in a place you can call a temporary home away from home.
Comfort:
At a hostel, you rent a bed, but at a hotel, you rent a whole room and all the hotel services that come with it. Hostels work in a pinch, but hotels are the optimal position to get off your feet and relax after a day of rigorous adventures.
Security:
I can’t tell you how many times I have had things stolen at hostels. Granted, I put my valuables in the accompanying lockers, but small items such as water bottles and shampoos frequently go missing when I stay at hostels. Additionally, when sleeping in a room full of strangers, you can only feel so safe. Hotels, on the other hand, offer more security for your night’s sleep. While there is still some risk associated with hotels, the combination of front desk security and private room results in a much more safety assured experience.
Better Work Environment:
This point is really only beneficial for digital nomads and other full-time travellers attempting to work from the road. Nevertheless, it is no less accurate. Hotels do function as a better work environment than hostels. With group accommodations, there is always a distraction. Hostels can be overwhelming and difficult settings to work in, from roommates going in and out of their bunks to full-on parties. But, the added privacy and security of a hotel makes it easy for online workers to disconnect themselves from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. It gives us an environment to enjoy peace and quiet in an optimal setting for creativity and productivity.
How The Destination Will Affect Your Hotel vs Hostel Accommodation Options
Generally, travellers can expect most hotels and hostels to demonstrate many of the associated benefits featured on the above lists. However, travellers should not expect all hostels and hotels to be the same or available in every world region.
For example, in particular, hostels are not available in every country. They are typically only common accommodation options in popular tourist destinations. In Indonesia alone, hostels are really only standard on the island of Bali and a select few tourist cities. And while there are some regions where even a hotel may be hard to find, these regions are far fewer and more scattered than those missing hostels.
Furthermore, the destination will also affect the overall vibe of the hostel itself. For example, in popular backpacker and spring break regions like Bali, Germany, and Amsterdam, many party hostels will see flocks of young people looking for an active nightlife. In these regions especially, travellers will have to decide between staying at an active party hostel or opting for the calm of a private hotel room.
The final effect that the region of your destination will have in deciding between a hotel vs hostel is the overall cost of the accommodations. As mentioned, areas in Latin America will charge as low as $3/$4 per night for a bed in a hostel dorm. And this is a familiar figure, with many hostels in South East Asia and Eastern Europe charging similar rates.
On the other hand, popular European countries and other Western destinations often charge upwards of $50 a night for a bed. In these countries, the rates of hostels vs hotels don’t vary nearly as much, and the slightly increased expense of a hotel becomes more attractive for the added luxury.
Conclusion: Hotel vs Hostel. Which is right for you?
Ultimately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer when deciding between a hotel and a hostel. And in fact, the best trips I have taken have all engaged a combination of these two accommodation options. Hostels are great for backpackers and budget tourists looking to connect with fellow travellers. But these shared rooms can get exhausting.
When the hustle and bustle of the hostel life becomes too much, hotels are the ideal way to escape. The added security and privacy of these hotel rooms are desirable for short-term holidaymakers and long-term travellers with a little more money to spare.
Of course, there is a solution to receiving both the benefits of staying at a hostel and a hotel. And that is by renting a private room from a hostel. Yes, these rooms share the social element in the common areas of the hostel, but it also includes the added privacy and security of a hotel room. If you are having difficulty choosing between a hotel vs hostel, then these private rooms may be just the solution you are looking for.
FAQ
Visitors staying at a hotel receive a private room and the associated services that come with it. On the other hand, a hostel offers a shared accommodation experience in which travellers pay for a bed in a dorm. By sharing a room with 8+ roommates, hostels provide a far more affordable nightly rate than their hotel counterparts.
Offering more security, privacy, and comfort than hostels, hotels are the preferred accommodation method of short-term holidaymakers. Additionally, hotels make great work environments for digital nomads and other travellers looking to earn from the road.
Hostels are popular among backpackers and budget travellers with far more affordable rates and social elements. They are an excellent method of extending travel budgets and meeting new people who share your travel passion.
A private hostel room offers the best of both worlds when it comes to hotel vs hostel. It provides the same security and privacy associated with a hotel room but with the same social element in the common areas that make hostels great for meeting fellow travellers.